Jos Verstappen provides surprise proposal for Max career path

Jos Verstappen has suggested his son Max could opt to take a sabbatical from F1 at some point during his career.

Verstappen won his fourth F1 title last weekend in Las Vegas, fending off a challenge from Lando Norris who put the Dutchman under pressure this year.

Verstappen has further embedded himself as one of the sport's most successful drivers with his latest title triumph.

However, the 27-year-old has long flirted with the possibility of exiting F1 long before a driver would typically be expected to hang up the helmet.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Verstappen Snr has stated his son's future in F1 remains up in the air beyond his contract expiry in 2028.

“We have a contract with Red Bull until 2028 and we’ll get there, then we’ll see.

“We’ll have to see if Max will still be interested in F1.”

Jos has theorised that Verstappen could opt to take a sabbatical and return to the sport after a period on the sidelines. 

“All his life he’s been told what he has to do, including by me, and now it’s happening with the team,” he said. “There will come a time when he wants to decide.

“There is certainly more to his life than F1 and Max is aware of that. He listens a lot to his feelings, he knows what he wants, but it’s difficult to say what will happen.

“Maybe he will stop for a year in the future and then he will feel like coming back.

“Certainly, it’s not the records that motivate him. He doesn’t need to win seven or eight world championships, he is already happy with what he has achieved.”